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Museum Guide for Los Angeles

Hello! I'm Maddie- a native NYer whose Wanderlust has taken her abroad again and again. Having lived in six countries, and visiting others for school, work, leisure, and sport, I've adopted many localities, and am an admirer of a great many more. An avid scholar of language and culture, I hope to keep expanding my travel repertoire, and sharing great stories with the rest of the travel community.
To give you some background on my travels, I spent months each year since childhood in Old Montreal, where part of my family lives. Summers were spent visiting folks in Ft. Lauderdale and L.A. My first big trip outside of the US on my own was to Australia & New Zealand at 12- I caught the bug early! I then moved to Japan where I studied for part of high school & uni. I am very familiar with Japanese cities, Sapporo and Osaka especially. Some of my favourite travel destinations include Goreme, Dubai, Marrakech, and Queenstown. (Plans for 2015 include China & Uganda!)
Nice to meet you!

LA is sometimes called 'the city of learning,' and its second-to-none museum culture reflects this title, offering a wide array of museums available to look at and learn from. Whether you're in the mood for fine art and architecture or fossils and fast cars, spare a day (or a few!) to check out the thriving exhibits around town.

Madison S's City Tips

To ride the metro and metro buses, you'll need a TAP card. Buy one at taptogo.net (to be mailed) or at any Metro Rail or Orange station in LA.

If you use coat or luggage check, it is common to tip a dollar when picking up your things as a thanks for the service - especially if it's rendered freely.

Bring a refillable water bottle with you. LA is hot, and museum walking will dehydrate you. You can easily refill it with cool water at any public fountain.

The Getty Center

Specialty Museums

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Madison S Says:

The Getty Center has it all. Come for the architecture, but don't 'Van Gogh' without seeing the lush, impressive gardens! Given the formidable permanent collection and rotating temporary exhibits focused on hands-on learning, you could spend an entire day here - the food alone makes it worth staying for lunch!

Good for

Foodie

Must See

History Buff

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

The tram up to the museum entrance is free, but parking at the base is expensive. To avoid this cost, use your TAP Card to take the 761 Metro rapid bus from Westwood Plaza.

The museum is closed on Mondays. On all other days of the week, it is open until 5:30pm (9:00pm on Saturdays).

'The Restaurant' at the Getty offers fantastic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and a seasonal menu, but reservations are required in advance - book online or by phone.

The Central Garden, South Pavilion Terrace, and Museum Courtyard all allow visitors to have picnics in the garden. Bring your own, or buy a lunch set at the Plaza Level.

Free tours are provided periodically and give a good overview of the museum's highlights. Check out tour times ahead of your visit at www.getty.edu.

One of most abundant sources of fossils in the world, the La Brea Tar Pits were formed by bubbling crude oil more than 10,000 years ago. To date more than one million bones have been unearthed, and excavations continue today. The Page Museum displays many of the finds, including the preserved remains of Ice Age saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and mammoths up to 40,000 years old. There are also observation rooms where you can observe live excavations, via several paleontology projects underway. When you're finished with the small museum, a visit to the pits themselves and a walk around the surrounding park won't go amiss.

Good for

Must See

History Buff

Thrill Seeker

Tips

Though the museum charges an admission fee, entrance to the tar pits and park area are free.

Kid-friendly exhibits (including one that demonstrates how sticky asphalt is) and the compactness of the museum make this a great destination for families with small children.

Parking is quite expensive at the museum, but there is plenty of meter parking around the general area if you don't mind a short walk.

Given the more than 400 dire wolf skulls on display, you can be sure that winter is coming.

The museum offers add-ons on to your ticket, including a multimedia Ice Age performance and the Excavator Tour, which lets you see embedded fossils and a live dig site.

General admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month except July and August.

LACMA holds more than 120,000 works - both modern and ancient - with a global focus. Art, film, and concerts can all be taken in here, and there are also numerous opportunities to get hands on with crafts and outdoor exhibits, as well as frequent children's activities. From Warhol and Kahlo, to the most contemporary artists, there's something for everyone at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Good for

Must See

History Buff

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

NexGen is the museum's free membership for children 17 and under- it grants admission to the museum and special exhibitions to the child and one accompanying adult.

The museum has especially good Spanish-speaking resources, guides, and web access.

If you're unwilling to pay the entry fee, check out the Urban Light's installation at the Wilshire entrance; it's made from restored 1900s street lamps.

With a focus on making science a hands-on experience, the CSC is great for children and adults alike - especially the young and curious at heart. Check out the famed Space Shuttle Endeavour in its final resting place, pop on some 3D glasses to take in an informative IMAX film, or spend the day in Ecosystems, checking out the plants and animals of far-away habitats in what is by far LA's most interactive museum experience.

Good for

History Buff

Like a Local

Tips

Advanced reservations must be made to visit the Shuttle Endeavour on weekends, holidays, during special events, and in high season. Book online to avoid disappointment.

Visiting the museum after 2:00pm and on weekends is recommended, to avoid the crowds created by school field trips.

Admission to the museum is free, but there is a nominal ticket charge for entry to the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the IMAX film, and the Pompeii experience.

Be aware that the Pompeii exhibit contains a virtual earthquake that may not be suitable for very young children.

Natural History Museum boasts the biggest collection of natural and historic artifacts on the west coast- nearly 35 million artifacts and specimens in total, dating back as far as 4.5 billion years. Satisfy your Jurassic cravings at Dinosaur Hall, learn a little about LA in the Becoming Los Angeles exhibit, and flex those green fingers in the Nature Gardens Lab.

Good for

History Buff

Tips

There is free admission the first Tuesday of every month except July and August.

If you plan to visit both the Page Museum and the Natural History Museum, you can purchase a combination ticket at either venue.

Visit after 2:00pm or on weekends due to the museum's popularity with school field trips.

Located next door to the Natural History museum, the California African American Museum hosts a heritage collection focused on the African American experience in the United States, both historically and in the present day. It boasts a library of more than 20,000 public reference books, as well as a mass of art, photographs, and memorabilia. The rotating lecture series, educational activities, and guest exhibits all assure that no two visits are likely to be the same.

Good for

Thrifty Traveler

History Buff

Tips

Admission is free here, and its proximity to other exhibits in LA makes it a great spot to begin or end your museum day.

Telescopes, Planetarium, and exhibits, oh my! Overlooking the Los Angeles basin, with free admission and parking, the Griffith Observatory is a great place to visit - and after learning all about how the earth rotates beneath your feet, you can take a load off with a cup of liquid jet fuel at its great cafe.

Good for

History Buff

Art and Architecture Lover

Nature Lover

Tips

You might consider going later in the day, as the planetarium is a wonderful location to catch the sunset.

Finding parking can be very difficult. Be prepared to drive around for a while, or else take the Red Line from Sunset Metro station to the Observatory.

One of three separate locations, MOCA's main branch on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles boasts the best of western art created after the mid-20th century. Despite its large and inter-disciplinary permanent collection, the museum's real intrigue lies in its temporary exhibits and installations, which are known for pushing the boundaries of what art can mean and do.

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

Trendsetter

Tips

The museum is free on Thursdays after 5PM and for children aged 17 and under.

Photography is prohibited in all but the permanent collection.

Parking is available at the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall. You'll have to put down a deposit, and with museum validation will receive some money back upon leaving.

At the Petersen Automotive Museum, also on Museum Row, you can take a walk through time - or rather, a drive. This nonprofit has more than 150 cars on display, organized to take you through the decades starting with the most vintage of vehicles. With a children's Discovery Center, a special exhibits floor, and a restricted-access basement collection, this department store-come-museum is a piece of history in itself and has been well-stocked for the car enthusiast and novice alike.

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

History Buff

Tips

Access to the underground 'vault' costs twice that of a normal ticket, but gives you access to a 90-minute tour of a number of classic cars - nearly half the collection.

Since the museum sometimes hosts after-hours film nights, check the website ahead of time to see if you can catch a flick in a very rare kind of theater!

The Museum of Tolerance was established in 1993 to focus on the concept of Human Dignity, exploring prejudice and racism throughout history and the world. Exhibits examine personal offenses, such as hate crime and bullying, and also mass exterminations, including the Holocaust and other modern genocides and atrocities. It is an educational museum that challenges visitors to change the way the world thinks, promoting tolerance and understanding.

Good for

History Buff

Tips

The museum is closed on Saturdays.

If you're a student, be sure to bring ID along with you for a ticketing discount.

The Anne Frank exhibit has a separate cost, but is definitely worth visiting, especially in the context of the museum's detailed and interactive Holocaust exhibit.

Located in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles, the Japanese American National Museum contains more than 100 years of Japanese-American history - from the first 'Issei' generation to the modern day - in letters, pictures, and art. A Smithsonian affiliate, it uses film and oral history to bring alive the truth of Japanese-American internment during World War II, telling the stories and hardships of those in California's internment camps.

The Grammy Museum is dedicated to winners of the prestigious award, but also to exploring musical history and the many genres of song, from hip-hop to classical. Spread across four floors, its costumes, original lyrics, and soundboards are all interactive. There's even a recording booth and a chance to try out various instruments. Fun, hands-on, and great for anyone who enjoys music... which is everyone!

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

History Buff

Tips

The most kid-friendly exhibit is a small stage where you and your family can form a band and play multiple instruments. Even better if you can get grandma to join in on guitar!

The Autry National Center of the American West is located in Griffith Park, near to the Griffith Observatory. Its collection of more than 500,000 items of art and artifacts tell the unique story of the peoples and cultures of the historical North American west coast, from Native Americans to settlers making their way to California during the Gold Rush. Focused on critical issues regarding identity and tradition, the museum is a powerful educational tool to learn about the past.

Good for

History Buff

Tips

The museum is completely wheelchair accessible - including all exhibits and restrooms.

Stroller rentals are available for free, but on a first-come, first-served basis.